Slide Chamber Lateral Interlock Water-Tight Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chambered slides for microscope inspection suffer from leakage issues and cannot be easily disassembled for storing the microscope inspection slide after use, limiting their utility in biological specimen analysis.

Innovation Solution

A slide chamber design featuring a top member with examination chambers and openings, a fluidic seal, and a base member with interconnecting means that mechanically interlock via lateral movement to ensure a water-tight assembly and disassembly, allowing for secure handling and storage of biological samples.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chambered slides are assembled with glued or mechanical attachment methods, then the assembly provides structural support for examination chambers, but the assembly suffers from leakage and cannot be easily disassembled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater-tight sealVSAvoiddisassembly capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure member incorporates a ratchet mechanism that allows dynamic assembly in one direction while preventing disassembly in the reverse direction, providing both secure water-tight sealing and controlled disassembly capability when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The chambered slide is divided into separable components (base member, closure member, examination chambers) that can be independently assembled and disassembled through the ratchet mechanism, allowing structural support while enabling leakage-free assembly and controlled disassembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If chambered slides use permanent attachment methods, then the structure provides stable support for optical examination, but the microscope inspection slide cannot be stored separately after use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidstorage flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The ratchet mechanism provides stable structural support during examination while allowing the chamber to be disassembled for storage by releasing the ratchet, enabling both structural stability and storage flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The separable design with ratchet attachment allows the examination chamber to be stably assembled during use and easily separated for storage of the microscope inspection slide, providing adaptability for different storage scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The slide chamber provides a secure, water-tight environment for optical examination and easy disassembly, preventing leakage and enabling the storage of biological samples for further analysis, enhancing the multiplexing potential in immunofluorescence analysis and other biological assays.

Implementation Method 1

the interconnecting means (41) of the base member (40) and the openings (12) of the top member (10) are configured to mechanically interlock with each other by lateral movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

pressing the top member (10) against the transparent closure (30) member, preferable in a water-tight manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

interleaved fluidic seal (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid sealing: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3711859B1Specimen slide chamber
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 MILTENYI BIOTEC BV & CO KG
  • EP3711859B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3711859B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3711859B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention is directed to a slide chamber comprising a top member (10), a fluidic seal (20), a transparent closure member (30) and base member (40) wherein the top member (10) is provided with at least one examination chamber (11) and a plurality of openings (12) positioned at two sides of the cover member outside of the examination chamber (11); and the base member (40) is provided with interconnecting means (41) complementary to the openings (12) of the top member characterized in that the interconnecting means (41) of the base member (40) and the openings (12) of the top member (10) are configured to mechanically interlock with each other by lateral movement thereby pressing the top member (10) against the transparent closure (30) member in a water-tight manner.